Diversity of Feminisms at the XI Latin American and Carribean Feminist Encuentro

Over a thousand women from all over Latin America and the Carribean have gathered for the XI Feminist Encuentro in Mexico City. The debates have been lively, the ideas and questions brought up in the opening panels and in a number of the self-organized spaces very though-provoking. Among the many women who are here, the presence, voice and demands of indigenous, afro-descendant and transgendered women, and the autonomous women's movement have been felt. From Martha Sanchez and Jenny de la Torre Córdoba, who were on the opening panel, to the autonomous women's declaration and the Manifesto of the Transgendered Brazilian Women, posted on the Petateras Blog, many voices and a diversity of feminist expressions have indeed gathered in this space. So much diversity (in terms of different currents of feminist thought, women who don't necessarily identify as feminists but are coming into this space in a spirit of dialogue, and in particular indigenous and african-descent women who speak about how their experience as women and as feminists is different because of their distinct contexts and life circumstances, and the added layer of racism that they face in society, as well as some expressions of racism and paternalism that they have encountered from other feminists) is not a simple thing to manage. Even with these challenges, many of the women present express their desire to be in dialogue and to continue these dialogues, to hear one another's viewpoints and begin to tease out what we mean when we talk about feminisms, a diversity of feminisms, so that from there we can build a solid ground on which to strengthen the feminist movement and feminist action in the region.

Las Petateras at the Feminist Forum in Mexico City

JASS and Las Petateras are participating actively in the 11th Feminist Forum in Mexico City. The 6th Feminist Transformation Watch began with Radio Petatera, a radio program broadcast on Feminist International Radio Endeavor (FIRE). Guests to the show included a transexual woman who sparked an intense debate about the necessity of feminist spaces to be inclusive of all women, regardless of weather or not they were born into female bodies. Today´s program brought up issues of indigenous women´s movements as well as the inclusion of women with disabilities in feminist spaces, with two visually impaired women interviewed during the program. JASS and Las Petateras also convened a workshop on Technology for Feminist Movements, delivered to a packed audience, that provoked a lively and intense discussion about the use of new media tools for organizing and building women´s movements. Las Petateras held a space for the Feminist Transformation Watch were diverse women were able to share their stories about how they came to feminism and how they cross the line in their personal lives. The session produced a very intimate and open space for sharing and connecting among us that is an often overlooked and vital part of our movement building. The feminist movement, historically fractured and divided, needs more spaces like these for listening to each other and understanding each other in order to build upon our differences and create a stronger and more unified movement.

Encuentro Feminista in Mexico City!

JASS and our Mesoamerican allies, Las Petateras, are attending the 11th Feminist Forum in Mexico City. Martha Sanchez, an indigenous leader from Mexico, carried the opening plenary with her outspoken and fiery commentary. The 6th Feminist Transformation Watch kicks off today with a Radio Petateras show from 1 to 2 pm local time. Tune in to hear the voices and expressions of the Latin American feminists present at the forum. This afternoon JASS and Las Petateras will hold a workshop titled "Technology for Feminist Movement Building," where participants will engage with a variety of new media communication tools and discuss the ways that Web 2.0 technology can amplify women´s voices and struggles worldwide. Check back soon for more updates!

IWD Still a long way to go!

Not yet Uhuru!

March 8 was International Women’s Day. This is a day marked to ‘celebrate women and recognize the great role they play in the world’. Women are not just women they are mothers, lovers and caregivers too.

Yet for many women this day really had no meaning, not because it’s not special but it does not fulfill any purpose in their lives.

Women bear the brunt of social, political, economic woes, yet they are still treated as second-class citizens.

On this day I felt that as a woman living in a country in which women are not only treated inhumanly but not respected as well, I had nothing to celebrate.

Why should women celebrate when many cannot even afford to buy a packet of sanitary pads, which are sold at ridiculous prices, yet they are a basic need. I’ve heard of stories of women resorting to olds pieces of cloth and papers as an alternative, risking their health in the process.



It is an open secret that many women are languishing in poverty and have to scavenge for everything from food to water. In most instances many go to bed hungry.


I have visited most cities which are hard hit by the water crisis, and I will testify that I have seen women and children risking their lives by fetching water from unprotected sources. The men will of course either be battling for power, or drinking their sorrows to oblivion.

As the adage goes where to elephants mate it is the grass suffers, thus women have fallen victim as they are at the receiving end of violence, whether in the home or in the country.

Women cannot walk freely at night without being harassed by not just men but police agents as well, accusing them of ‘loitering for the purposes of prostitution’. Not only is this dehumanising but mind -boggling as well.

To date many women still face physical, sexual and emotional abuse regardless of the Domestic Violence Law which to me really is just ‘a loud sounding nothing’. Owing to the fact that many women are still vulnerable and have little or no say over their bodies. They are subjected to Rape, crimes of passion and willful transmission of HIV/AIDS.


Although women experience all the insurmountable challenges their efforts go unnoticed, even when it comes to decision-making and positions of authority, very few women if any at all are given the opportunity to show their prowess.

This is why I feel although there is a day set aside to celebrate women, more still needs to be done, respect, recognition and love is still lacking. Until such a time when women’s efforts are recognized and acknowledge it is definitely not yet Uhuru for the fairer sex.


By Patience

JASS at the Feminist Forum in Mexico City

JASS and our Mesoamerican allies, Las Petateras, arrived in Mexico City to participate in the 11th Feminist Forum in Mexico City that begins on Monday the 16th of March.  JASS and Las Petateras will conduct various workshops including a Tech Camp where new media web tools will be taught and discussed in relation to movement building and strengthening women's collective power.  Also, the 6th Feminist Transformation Watch will take place beginning on the 17th until the 19th with a space on Feminist International Radio from 1:30 to 2:30 pm local time. Goals for this Watch include documenting and reporting on feminist thought and action during the Feminist Forum as well as providing an open space for discussion and expression.  In conjunction with the radio show, participants in the Watch will have a space to report findings and observations from 6-7 pm during the Forum, as well as publishing reports on the Petateras blog and right here on the JASS blog.  So check back often for updates, photos, and reports from the 11th Feminist Forum in Mexico City!